Arraez an unlikely power source in Venezuela's loss

MIAMI – Luis Arraez has not played a game yet at loanDepot park in a Marlins uniform. When the season opens on March 30, he already will have gotten comfortable in his new home ballpark.

Arraez, who was traded to Miami from Minnesota in January, pummeled a pair of home runs for Team Venezuela in its quarterfinals matchup against Team USA on Saturday night. Venezuela was eliminated in a 9-7 loss. The 25-year-old had never homered twice in a game during his four seasons in the Majors and seven in the Minors.

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“He won the batting title [in 2022] … I didn't know he had that pop in him, though,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said. “I mean, that one down the line was smoked off him three-quarters of the way up the foul pole there.”

Arraez’s first homer of the night – and the tournament – came in the first inning. He jumped on a cutter from Lance Lynn and sailed it 377 feet into right field at 102.3 mph. Arraez drove in Jose Altuve and cut USA’s advantage to just one run.

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By the time Arraez stepped up to the plate in the seventh inning, Venezuela had taken a one-run lead. He put them up, 7-5, when he rocked David Bednar’s fastball 351 feet to right at 101.4 mph for his second dinger of the night.

“When Arraez hit both those homers, to see those guys come out of the dugout. … I told the guys before the game, I wanted to match their passion,” DeRosa said.

One inning later, Trea Turner halted the momentum sparked by Arraez with a game-winning grand slam.

But Arraez’s three-run, four-RBI night still shined bright under the lights where he will take the field this season. Coming off last year when he hit .316 and earned his first All-Star selection and Silver Slugger Award, Arraez, 25, will look to hit many more out of the same stadium with the Marlins.